Social housing tenant shocked by mould discovery – The North Bay Nugget

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DNSSAB spokesperson says actions taken to address concerns

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Mary McDonald thought living in social housing would protect her from slum lords, but after struggling with amouldissue in her townhouse on McNamara Street she isnt so sure.

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The mother of two says she would leave, but has no place to go and the affordability of renting has forced her to live with the situation.

It shouldnt be this hard to live in a healthy clean environment, she told The Nugget Monday.

I love my home, but I hate to walk inside. This isnt fair. Just because we live in social housing doesnt mean we should be treated less of a person.

McDonald said in April she started to notice a smell coming from underneath the sink in the kitchen.

She pulled everything out and bleached it to try and eliminate the stench. She continued to do this for days hoping it would provide her family with some relief.

But nothing worked.

A few weeks later the smell had worsened, so she called the maintenance department with the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board(DNSSAB).

They changed one of the pipes below the sink, but the mildew smell didnt go away. I just couldnt find out where this was coming from.

McDonald said it wasnt until her taps wouldnt turn offlast week that the source of the stench was found.

The plumber came into my unit and was underneath the sink when he told me I was going to thank him for what he found.

She said she was confused and thought theremay have beenan issue with the plumbing or faucets, but when the countertop was pulled out the evidence was right in front of her.

Underneath the entire countertop was black. My cutlery drawer was exposed to this and every time we opened the drawer it rubbed against themould, McDonald said.

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They came to take the countertop out and they were wearing hazmat suits, yet were sitting watching them on the couch a few feet away.

McDonald said she sent pictures to housing to alert them of the situation.

I wasnt angry, rather I was in shock. My son has a major allergy tomouldand I have been giving him shots to deal with this.

The mother contacted a doctor to alert him of the situation and to get some advice.

I was told my son needs to be removed from the home right away and not return until themouldis completely gone, McDonald said.

She said no solutions were provided andshehasno choice but to stay in the home with her son.

The way I was treated isnt right. Im trying to better myself.

Marianne Zadra, communications and executive coordinator for DNSSAB, said in the last10days, various actions have been taken to address the concern and repair any damage.

She saidmouldhas been removed from the countertop and back of the kitchen cabinet. An independent remediation company also was called in to determine if blue mold was present (a concern of the tenant), anditfound there wasnt any and that the home is safe to be in.

Acabinetmakerhas been scheduled to be in the unit today(Monday)to take measurements to order new cabinets to replace the current ones as an extra precaution, Zadra said.

All mold that was visible was removed. An independent contractor reported the unit was safe to live in as a result. Staff went the extra mile and replaced the drywall, lower cabinets and countertop.

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As of Monday, the lower cabinets still hadnt been replaced and the kitchen is unable to be used.

McDonald says this isnt the first timemouldhas appeared in her housing unit. There wasmould underneath her sons bedroom window and through the wall in the bathroom.

According to an email provided by McDonald from Better Homes Insulation Inc. dated Aug. 23., it states the lower cabinet should be removed and disposed, board against exterior wall is wet, drywall behind lower cabinet area should be removed and disposed, insulation and vapour barrier behind cabinet should be removed and disposed and 1/4 inch clear plumbing line under sink may or may not require attention. Certified plumber should provide a better recommendation.

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Social housing tenant shocked by mould discovery - The North Bay Nugget